Presser-foot mechanism for shoe-sewing machines.



No. 7l0,6|3. Patented Oct. 7, I902 E. P. RICHARD-SON.

PRESSER FOOT MECHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed. Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed Jan. 20, 1902.)

(No Model.) .7 Sheets $h eet l.

No. 710,613. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

I E. P. mcunnnsou. PRESSER FOOT MECHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES.

(Application and Apr. 95, 1001. Renewed Jim. 20, 1902.

7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

o O WITNBESEISI W AM? m5 Noam: PETERS co. PnoTouma. anna-ran, n. cy

No. 7l0,6l3. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

E. P. RICHARDSON.

PRESSER FOOT MECHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES.

. (Application filed Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed Jan. 20, 1902.)

(No Model.)

7 SheetsSheet 3.

\K/ITNESSBE' INVENTCR:

Maw. 4 W g? m: ncnms PETERS no, wno'rou'mo vnsmum'cu. o. c.

N0. 7I0,6I3. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

E. P. RICHARDSON.

PRESSER FOOT MECHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed Jan; 20, 1902.)

INVEINTEIR! 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

\XATNEBSES:

THE NORRIS PETERS on, PHoTouTnQ. WASHINGTON. u. c.

2 0 W 7 c 0 d e t n e t a P N o s D B A H m B P .L H w 7 m N PRESSEBFOOT MECHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES.

(Application fllod Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed Jun. 20, 1902.)

1 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

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1 v Patented Oct. 7,1902, E. P. RICHARDSON.

PRESSEB FOOT MECHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES. (Application filed Apr.26, 1'901. Renewed In. 20, 1902.) (No Model.)

7 Sheets-Shoat 6.

WITNESSES! INVBNT 0R:

Patented out. 7, I902.

no. 7l0,6|3.

E. P. RICHARDSON.

PBESSER FOOT MECHANISM FOR SHOE SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed. Apr. 25, 1901. Renewed Jan. 20, 1902.)

7 Shuts-Shoat 7.

(No Model.)

I N I I r Ill! NVEZNTDRJ RRIS pzrcws w. P

PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT P. RICHARDSON, OF LAXVRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO JOHN H. RICHARDSON,

CHUSETTS.

TRUSTEE, OF LAiVRENCE, MASSA- PRESSER-FOOT MECHANISM FOR'SHOE-SEWINGMACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710, dated 0617010611902- Original application filed June 21, 1900, Serial No. 21,084.Divided and this application filed April 25, 1901. Renewed January 20,1902. Serial No. 9O, L'76. (No model.)

To (ti/Z whom, it ntrtg concern.-

Be it known that I, EVERETT P. RICHARD- sON, of Lawrence, in the countyof Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Shoe-Sewing Machines, of which the followingisaspecificatiou.

This invention has relation to machines for sewing soles to the uppersof boots and shoes,

being-more particularly related to that class known as McKaysewingmachines, in which the needle penetrates the sole and enters theinterior of the shoe, and a horn is introduced into the shoe to supportthe latter !5 and to carry the complemental sewing mechanism whichcooperates with the needle in forming the stitches.

The object to be attained by the invention is the provision of improvedmechanism for automatically regulating the operation of the presser-footin accordance with the variation in thickness of the worki. c., thelayers of material constituting the sole, the edges of the upper, andthe insole.

A further objectof the invention is the improvement and sim plificatiouof presser-foot mechanism in machines of the class referred to forrendering them more certain and efficient in operation.

0 The manner in which I achieve the objects specified and in what theinvention consists will be hereinafter fully set forth, it beingsul'licient forall general purposes to here state that the inventionconsists of a sewing-machine possessing certain features orcharacteristics of construction and arrangement of parts, as illustratedupon the accompanying drawings, described in the followingspecification, aud particularized in the appended 0 claims. I desire tohave it understood, however, that 1 am in no wise limited to theparticular mechanism which 1 have seen lit to illustrate and describe,although said mechanism is the best embodiment of the invention nowknown to me, for it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatthesaid mechanism may be varied in numerous ways without departing from thespirit and scope of the said invention.

Referring to the said drawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation amachine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation ofthe upper portion of the machine which is mounted or secured to thehead. Fig. 3 is a view of the same through the other side. Fig. 4represents a front end elevation of the mechanism-shown in Figs. 2 and3. Fig. 5 represents another view of the same with the parts indifferent positions. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the front end ofthe machine. Figs. 7 and 8 represent a portion of the mechanism utilizedfor the automatic locking of the pressenfoot. Fig. 9 represents a rearelevation of the upper portion of the machine, some of the parts beingin section. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 illustrate a portion of the mechanismfor starting and stopping the machine. Fig. 13 represents an enlargedsection on the line 19 19 of Fig. 1. Fig. 14 represents an enlargedsection on the line 20 20 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a standard having a suitable base2, the upper portion of the standard being bent rearwardly and thenforwardly and flattened to receive the base-plate 3 of a head which isbolted or otherwise secured thereon. In the front of the standardprovision is made for the reception of a rotatable horn 4, in which ismounted the usual looper mechanism and other devices ordinarilysupported therein. 1 shall not attempt to describe the mechanismadjacent the horn more than to state that the driven parts are operatedfrom a shaft 5, extending through the standard, as clearly shown in Fig.1, and geared to the powershat't in the head.

The head comprises the base-plate'3 and theuprlghts b and 7, in whichthere is journaled the power or needle-driving shaft 8, said shaftprojecting rearwardly to receive the loosely-mounted pulley 9. Power istransmitted to said pulley by a belt 10 passing around a pulley 12,rigidly secured to a shaft 13, journaled in arms 14 15, risingvertically 5 from a bracket 16, secured to the base 2 of the standard.Clutching mechanisms are inserted between the pulley 9 and the shaft 8and the pulley 12 and the shaft 13, and I shall" first describe theclutching mechanism on the shaft 13.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 13, it will be noted that theshaft 13 is longi-' tudinally movable in the bearings afiorded by thearms 14 and 15 and that the pulley 12 is rigidly secured by a screw tothe shaft. Loosely mounted on the shaft are two beltpulleys 16 17, towhich power is transmitted from a shaft 18 by belts 19 20 andbelt-pulleys 21 22 on said shaft 18. The two belts 19 20 travel in thesame direction; but the beltpulley 21 is much larger in diameter thanthat indicated at 22, so that when the pulley 16 is clutched to theshaft 13 the latter is rotated at much higher speed than when the pulley17 is clutched thereto. To the outer faces of the pulleys 16 and 17there are secured disk-shaped friction members 23 24, respectively, withwhich friction members 25 26 may be engaged, according, to the locationof the shaft 13. The operative portions of the friction members 25 26are shod with suitable friction material and said members are rigidlysecured to the shaft, so that by moving the shaft to the right in Fig.13 the friction member 25 will be engaged with the member 23, and ifmoved in the other direction the friction member 26 will be engaged withthe member 24. The friction members may be constructed in other ways, ifdesired, although forordinary purposes I find the form illustrated anddescribed to be suitable. Between the friction members 25 and 23 Iprovide a comparatively strong spring 27, the ends of which bear againstthe member 25 and the middle portionof which bears against the member23. This spring tends to hold the members 26 and 24 in frictionalengagement, and in order to overcome the tension of the spring forengaging the members 25 and 23 there is provided a bell-crank lever 28,fulcrumed on a stud 29, projecting from the arm 14:. On itsupwardly-projecting end the bell-crank is equipped with a stud on whichis journaled a frusto-conical idler 290, adapted to be moved intoengagement with the beveled face of a ring 30, secured upon the hub ofthe pulley 12 to move said pulley and the shaft 13 longitudinally of theaxis of said shaft. The bell-crank lever is normally held in inoperativeposition by a spring 31, (see Fig. l4;) but it may be thrown into0perative position by foot-operated devices, including a foot lever ortreadle 32, a rod 33, and a clip 34, adjustably secured to said rod by aset-screw 35. The treadle 32 is fulcrumed upon a stud 36, projectingfrom the arm 15. The treadle may be depressed to a considerable extentwithout swinging the bell-crank 28 far enough to frictionaily engage thefast-moving pulley with the shaft 13, since the rod and lever areutilized for the purpose of starting the machine, as will be described.I provide relatively fast and slow moving pulleys, so that I may securea variable speed in sewing. Hence when sewing around the toe or heel thesewing mechanism will be actuated slowly, and while sewing along theshank or side I may throw the highspeed pulley into engagement with theshaft 18, so as to cause the rapid actuation of the sewing mechanism atsuch time. The two pulleys 16 and 17 rotate at different predeterminedspeeds, whereby the sewing mechanism is likewise actuated at differentspeeds, according to the portion of the shoe being stitched. This Iregard as an important featu re of the invention, since it enables theoperator to note to a certainty the speed at which the mechanism isoperating, thereby permitting him to guide the shoe accordingly, whethersewing at the toe or along the sides. It likewise permits the operatorto change the speed of the machine instantly from slow to fast, and viceversa, during a single stitch with a knowedge of the speed to be thusinstantly attained without considering the movement or inertia of themoving parts or waiting for the speed to change gradually, as where theordinary speed mechanism is employed. The rod 33 is pivoted at its lowerend (see Fig. 14:) to the treadle 32 by a bolt 361, and at its upper endit is formed with a head 37, as shown in Figs. 3, 10, and 11, which isutilizedin the starting and stopping mechanism, which I shall nowproceed to describe.

On the shaft 8 and adjacent the pulley 9 is rigidly secured a disk 38,to which a pawl 39 is fulcrumed by a stud 40. (See Fig. 9.) The pawloverhangs a ratchet-wheel 4.1,rigidly connected with the pulley 9, andtherefore loosely revoluble about the shaft 8. The pawl 39 is adapted tobe drawn normally into engagement with the ratchet by a spring 42,having one end connected to the end of the pawl and the other endattached to a screw 43. The other end of the pawl is projected a shortdistance beyond the periphery of the disk 38, whereby it is adapted tobe engaged by a pin ll, projecting from a stud in the end of anelbow-lever 46, fulcrumed on a pin 47, projecting from a lug 48 on thestandard 1. One arm of the elbow-lever projects upwardly and the otherforwardly at right angles thereto, being provided with a notched clip49, with whichthe head 37 may be engaged. The said head 37 is providedwith two shoulders which are separated, so that when the treadle 32 isoperated the elbow-lever is likewise actuated; but there is a certainamount of lost motion between the head 37 and the clip 49. This lostmotion permits the treadle to be depressed to throw in or out thefast-speed pulley without releasing the elbow-lever, as will beexplained. A spring 50 (see Fig. 3) is utilized to hold the pin atnormally in the path of the end of. the pawl 39. As long as the treadleis undepressed the pin 44 remains in engagement with the end of the pawland holds it free from the ratchet 41, whereby the pulley 9 rotateswithout causing the rotation of the shaft8. Then the treadle isdepressed, the pin 4.4. is moved axially of the shaft 8 to release thepawl and permit it to engage the ratchet al. The elbow-lever 46 isadapted to be held in an inoperative position by a locking-pawl 51,pivoted upon a stud 52 and drawn into engagement with the clip 49 whenthe latter is depressed by a spring Said pawl is provided with a pin 54,with which a cam edge 55 on the head 87 engages when the rod rises andreleases the pawl from the clip 49 to permit the pin 4% to return to itsoperative position under the impulse of the spring 50. In addition tothe pin 4% the elbow-lever carries a spring-tensioned stop adapted tostop the rotation of the shaft 8. Said stop is indicated at 56, and ithas a downwardly-projecting spring-arm 57, which tapers toward its end.The said end is held between two pins 58, extending into theupwardly-projecting arm of the elbow-lever 4:6. Said stop 56 when thesaid elbow-lever is in operative position extends into the path of astop on a disk 59, said stop being formed by cutting away said disk, soas to leave a shoulder 58 (See Fig. 12.) NVhen the shoulder 58 engagesthe stop 56, the jar and the reaction are both taken up by thespring-arm 57.

\Vith this description it will be seen that at the instant the pulley 9is unclutched from the shaft 8 the said shaft is stopped from rotationand that said shaft will be stopped after each rotation unless thefoot-treadle is depressed. The separation of the shoulders on the head37 permits the head to rise,while the lever is locked by the pawl 51until the lat ter is thrown out by the pin 5st, and hence the elbow isreleased very rapidly, and it quickly snaps into position in time tostop the machine at the completion of the stitch.

I propose to now describe the presser-foot, which is automaticallyadjusted according to the thickness of the work, and the mechanism forautomatically locking said presserfoot after it has been adjusted. Saidpresserfoot is indicated at (30 and is located above the end of the horna and a little to one side of the axis of rotation thereof. Saidpresserfootis adjustably secured to a vertically-movable bar 61, whichhas a downwardly and laterally projecting finger 62. The presser-foot ispivoted upon a stud 63 and is adapted to be held at any desiredadjustment by a setscrew 64. (See Figs. 2 and a.) The bar 61 pro jeotsvertically upward, and it is mounted in guides, being provided at itsupper end with a slot 65, through which a screw-pin 66 passes into abracket (37, bolted at the top of the upright (3. The lower end of saidbar is guided by a flanged plate 68, affixed to the side of thebase-plate An adjusting-screw 69 (see Fig. 4c) is passed downwardlythrough the top end of the bar 61, and its end rests upon the pin 66when the presser-foot is in its lowermost position. Near the bed-platethe bar 61 is formed with a shoulder 70, and to the side of the barabove the shoulder there is secured a clip 71, having a shoulderconfronting that at 70. Between the shoulders there is a space affordedfor the reception of a pin 72, by means of which the presser-foot may beraised or lowered or locked iii-position, as the case may be. The saidpin 72 projects forwardly from an arm 73, which is rigidly secured to ashaft 7st, journaled in bearings afforded by the uprights of the head.There is a spring 75 coiled around the shaft 74 with one end secured toa collar 76, affixed to the shaft by a set-screw 77, and with the otherend resting against the top of the bed-plate 3, and said spring normallyholds the presserfoot downward, so as to rest upon the sole of the shoeon the horn. Said spring, however, is not so strong but thatit permitsthe presser-foot to rise and fall according to the thickness of the workas the latter is fed along, so as to always rest upon the top of thesole. The arm 73, from which the pin 72 projects, has a projection 78 inthe path of a lever 79, centrally fulcrumed upon a stud 80, and havingits rear end connected by a rod 81 to a treadle S2, fnlcrumed upon thestud 36, which projects through the upright 15 at the base of themachine. hen the operative depresses the said treadle 82, thepresser-foot is raised to permit the insertion of the shoe upon thehorn. The mechanism for automatically lockingthe presser-foot after thefeediugtof the shoe comprises an arm 83, the hub S L of which is rigidlysecured to the shaft 74. On its end the arm has a segmental extension85, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Loosely mounted on the shaft 74: is alever having two arms 86 87, the latter being substantially parallel tothe bed-plate and being held down by a spring 88, coiled around a pin89, passed loosely through the arm into the bed-plate. The end of thearm 86 forms one jaw of a clamp, the other jaw being the end of aresilient or spring lever 90, fulcrumed upon a screw-pin 91, passedtherethrough into a boss 02 on the arm 86. The segmental extension ofthe arm 83 passes between the two jaws and is adapted to be clampedthereby when the lower end of the lever 90 is moved toward the back endof the machine. To cause the operation of the clamp, there is a cam 93,rigidly secured upon the shaft 8. Said cam has a cam-rim 94C and also acam 95, with a single depression 96. The cam-rim 04: has also a singledepression, as shown in Fig. 7. A lever 97 is fulcrumed upon a stud 98,passed into a bracket 99 on the bed-plate, (see Fig. 8,) and it projectsat an inclination across the base-plate, being equipped on its end witha roller 100, resting against a cam-rim 9i. Passed through the arm 86 isa pin 101, which rests against the side of the lever 97, and the otherend of the pin is formed with a reduced end projecting through anaperture 102 in the lever 90 and with a shoulder which bears against theinner face of said lever. The cam-rim normally holds the clamp in itsoperative position, and the lever 83 is released only for an IIO instantimmediatelyfafter the feeding of the work to permit the presser-foottorise or fall with the surface of the sole as the thickness varies, afterwhich it is again immediately locked. The lever 86 has a roll 103resting against the cam 95, whereby the arm or lever 86 is rocked topermit the feeding of the work. The lever 86 is rocked by the cam afterthe clamp engages the segmental extension 85 for lifting thepresser-foot to permit the feeding of the work, which takes place againsubsequently. The parts of the machine are so timed that the roll 100enters the depression in the cam-rim 94: just as the end of the lever 39comes to a point where it may be engaged by the pin 44, as shown in Fig.7, whereupon the machine is stopped,and the operative may rock the partor arm 73 by means of the treadle S2 to raise the presser-foot.

Through the arm 87 there is passed an adjusting-screw 500, which bearsagainst the bed-plate, which may be locked in position by the nut 501.This screw regulates the operation or movement of the lever 86, since itadjusts the roll 103 toward or from the cam 95, and thereby determinesthe length of contact between the last-mentioned parts. Consequently itvaries the extent to which the presser-bar is lifted during the feedingof the work.

According to this description I provide a member which is positivelyconnected to the presser-foot and which may be clamped to hold thepresser-foot against movement. The illustrated embodiment of theinvention shows the member as consisting of two parts 73 and 83,connected by a rock-shaft, the longer one of which is in the nature ofan arm of a lever. The parts 73 and 83 constitute, as it were, the shortand long arms, respectively, of a bell-crank lever, the rockshaft thusbeing a fulcrum or pivot. The short arm is connected to the presser-footand the long arm is adapted to be engaged near its end by the springfriction clamping mechanism. The difference in length between the twoarms is an important factor in determining the force necessary to lockthe presser-foot against movement.

That part of the sewing mechanism which is mounted upon the head andwhich I denominate the upper sewing mechanism comprises a needle, itsactuating mechanism, and a cast-off. The needle is shown at 105, and itis clamped in the lower end of a verticallyreciprocatory needle-bar 106by a clamp 107. The bar reciprocates vertically in guides mounted in thebracket 67 and in an extension of the bed-plate 3.

The cast-off is indicated at 123, and it is secured upon the end of anarrow bar 124:, slidably secured in agroove in the needle-bar 106. Atits upper end it projects from the slot, as shown at 125, and isconnected by a spring 126 with the collar 112. There is another collar127 around the needle-bar between the projecting end 125 and the top ofthe collar 112.

Said collar is provided with an upwardly-extending arm 128, which passesbetween the bracket 67 and friction material 129, held against the armby'a clip 130. The needle-bar has secured to it a stud a short distancefrom the collar 112, so that the cast-off has a certain amount of lostmovement at each reciprocation of the needle-bar. The cast-off performsthe ordinary function accomplished by such devices, and it is properlytimed, as will be subsequently described.

The feeding mechanism comprises a point 131, secured in an arm 134,connected by a stud 132 with the lower end of a bar 133. The arm andpoint are free to swing upwardly on the reverse lateral movement of thebar, but are held against so doing during the forward movement by a pin135 engaging a shoulder at the lower extremity of said bar 133. The barhas an up-and-down as well as an oscillatory movement. At its upper endthere is a stud 136 passing through a slot 137 in the Presser-foot bar,said stud being equipped on its end with a roll 138. There is anotherstud 139 aboveit, on which there is a roll 140, said stud 139 beingsecured to the presserfoot bar.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The operative having placeda shoe upon the horn, after raising the presser-foot by means of thetreadle, as described, the presser-foot descends upon the work, thefeeding-point also engagin-gthe latter. The point and the presser-footremain stationary while the needle descends, and the looper (not shown,but placed in the horn) carries the thread around it, the cast-offmechanism following the needle until it strikes the work, whereupon saidcastoff stops and the needle penetrates the work to receive the loop. Asthe needle rises it slides by the cast-off until the barb of the needleis covered, and then the cast-0E rises with the needle-bar. Just as theneedle starts to lift the presser-foot is raised slightly, and as theneedle leaves the work the feeding-point moves forward. By the time theneedle has reached its highestpoint the feeding-point has reached thelimit of its travel. The presser-foot is let down by the cam and isreleased by the lockingmechanism to permit it to adjust itself to thethickness of the work, said presser-foot adjusting itself at everystroke of the needle, as previously described. The movement of thepresser-foot causes the adjustment of the movable fulcrum previouslydescribed, thus arranging for the length of the upward travel of theneedle for the next loop. Immediately after the presserfoot ispositioned it is clamped to form an abutment for the work and to holdthe fulcrum rigidly against movement. The feeding-pointis lifted out ofthe work and is drawn back to its first position, the needle now beingat its highest point, with the loop held in the barb by the cast-off.-When the needle descends, the loop is held by the cast-off and the nextstitch is drawn up through it. The

pact and easy-run n i ng mach i n e.

stop mechanism, as previously described, is so arranged that the machinestops after one rotation of the shaft 8 unless the clutch is held out ofoperation by the treadle. The cam 05 holds the presser-foot raisedslightly during the feeding operation to prevent its dragging on thework.

It will be seen that I have provided a com- Theneedledriving shaftsextend longitudinally of the bed and in parallelism with the variousrockshafts which cause or govern the action of the other operative partsof the mechanism. The movable fulcrum, with which the needle-bar isengaged or connect-ed only during the upstroke thereof, and the greaterpart of the controlling mechanism therefor are located between theneedle-bar-driving shaft and between the needlebar and the upright onthe bed. The adjustable parts have means for positively adjusting themto predetermined position, and the whole machine is neater, morecompact, and more efficient than those heretofore constructed. 3y theemployment of friction clamping mechanism I am enabled to lock thepresser-foot at the exact position to which it has been adjusted by thework without any lost motion. Consequently I am able to adjust thevariable fulcrum with the greatest accuracy for the length of the loop,a thing that has been impossible when positive mechanism, such as a pawland ratchet, has been used for locking the presser-foot after itsadjustment by the work. This I regard as an important feature of theinvention, for I believe that I am the first to have employed frictionclamping mechanism for the purpose specified. In connection with theclamping mechanism it will be observed that the lever 83, which has thesegmental extension, is much longer than the arm 73, and hence I securea greater leverage in clamping the presser-foot and attain a moreaccurate clamping of the latter.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No.21,084, filed June 21, 1000, for shoe-sewing machine.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way ofconstructing and using the same, although without attempting to setforth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes ofits use, I declare that what I claim is l. A machine of the characterdescribed having a presser-foot varied in position bythe' thickness ofthe work, a bar or support on which the presser-foot is mounted, amember connected to the presser-foot bar, and means for clamping saidmember and thereby with a minimum of pressure holding said presserfootagainst movement.

2. A machine of the character described having a presser-foot varied inposition by the thickness of the work, a bar or support on which thepresser-foot is mounted, a member connected to the presser-foot bar andhaving an elongated arm, and friction mechanism for clamping said armand thereby locking said presser-foot against movement.

3. A machine of the character described having a presser-foot varied inposition by the thickness of the work, a bar or support on which thepresser-foot is mounted, a member connected to the presser-foot bar, andmeans for clam ping said member and thereby with a minimum of pressureholding said presserfoot against movement, said means comprising twoclamping members of which one is a lever fulcrumed near one end tosecure a greater leverage in clamping the said member.

i. A machine of the character described having a presserfoot varied inposition by the thickness of the work, a member consisting of a shortarm connected to the presser-foot, and a relatively long free arm, andmeans for clamping said long arm and thereby locking said presser-footagainst movement.

5. A machine of the character described having a presser-foot varied inposition automatically by the thickness of the work, a bar or support onwhich the Presser-foot is mounted, a member connected to thepresser-foot bar and having an elongated arm, and an automatic clamp forengaging said arm.

(5. A machine of the character described having a presser-foot varied inposition automatically by the thickness of the work, a bar orsupport onwhich the presser-foot is mounted, a member connected to the resser-footbar, a clamp for holding said member and thereby the presser-footagainst movement, and a cam controlling the actuation of said clamp.

7. A machine of the character described having a presser-foot, a memberconnected therewith, an automatic clamp for locking said member to holdsaid presser-foot against the work, means for bodily moving said clampand member to lift the presser-foot from said work, and means forregulating the movement of the clamp.

8. A machine of the character described having a presser-foot, a memberconnected to said presser-foot, an automatic springfriction-clampforyieldinglyengaging and clamping said member and therebyholding the presser foot, and means for closing said clamp.

9. A machine of the character described having an automatically-adjustable presserfoot, a bar or support on which the presserfoot ismounted, a powershaft, clamping mechanism for said presser-footcomprising a member connected to said presser-foot bar, a clamp forclamping the member, and a cam on said shaft for operating the clamp.

10. A machine of the character described having anautomatically-adjustable presserfoot, a power-shaft, a clamp for saidpresserfoot provided with two coacting members, a cam on said shaft forpositively closing said clamp, and thereby holding the presser-footagainst movement relatively thereto, and a supplemental cam for movingsaid clamp too bodily to lift the presser-foot and permit the feeding ofthe work thereunder.

11. A machine of the character described having anautomatically-adjnstable presserfoot, a member connected to said foot, apower-shaft, a clamp having separable friction members for clamping saidfoot member and thereby holding said presser-foot after adjustment, oneof said friction members being yielding, and mechanism actuated by saidpower-shaft for contracting said members to clamp the said foot member.

12. A machine of the character described having anautomatically-adjustable presserfoot, a rocking member connected withsaid presser-foot and having an arm, automatic mechanism for clampingsaid arm after the presser-foot is adjusted,and automatic means forrocking said member.

13. A machine of the character described having anautomatically-adjustable presserfoot, a rock-shaft having a short armconnected with the presser-foot and a relatively long arm, and automaticmechanism for clamping said long arm.

1 L. A machine of the character described having anautomatically-adjustable presserfoot, a lever connected mediately withthe presser-foot and having a lateral segmental extension, andautomatically-actuated clamping members between which said extensionprojects and by which it is intermittingly clamped.

15. A machine of the character described having anautomatically-adjustable presserfoot, a lever connected mediately withthe presser-foot, a movable clamp having separable members adapted toengage said lever,

automatic means for closing the clamp, and automatic means for movingsaid clamp to raise the presser-foot.

16. A machine of the character described com prising a presser-footresting on the surface of the work and adjusted automatically thereby,mechanism for locking said presserfoot in operative position, and a stopmechanism controlling the operation of the machine, said parts beingarranged and operated whereby the presser-foot is automatically releasedwhen the stop-motion is actuated to stop the machine, whereby the saidpresser-foot is then free to be moved manually.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

EVERETT P. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. DELANEY, MATTHEW A. GREGG.

